Supporting a Loved One with Diabetes: 5 Essential Ways to Help

If your loved one is diabetic, you know how overwhelming the diagnosis feels. From meals to exercise, appointments to medication, there’s a lot to juggle whether they’ve just been diagnosed or have managed their diabetes for years. Fortunately, there are several ways you can help a loved one dealing with diabetes. As a caregiver, it’s important to create a plan and understand the specific ways your loved one needs help.

Here are five ways you can help:

The first way to help a loved one with diabetes is learning about the disease. Symptoms include increased hunger or thirst, losing weight, frequent urination, feeling tired, and numbness in extremities. For older adults, it’s easy to dismiss many symptoms as part of aging when they might be warning signs of diabetes.¹

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults. It’s caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body stops making insulin.² Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes, which is when the body does not use insulin well. Whereas type 1 is usually diagnosed in childhood, type 2 can develop at any point and often impacts middle-aged and older adults. Lifestyle factors, including activity-level and weight are connected to type 2.

For seniors, diabetes may look different or be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms resemble aging. Learn more about diabetes in older adults. 

Eating healthy is essential to managing diabetes. For anyone newly diagnosed it can be difficult to shift your cooking and eating habits. As a caregiver, this is a great place to help! Plan family meals around your loved one’s diabetes, offer to cook or to bring healthy well-balanced dishes.

Counting carbohydrates is a good way to manage blood sugar levels. Learn about the plate method of meal planning, which focuses on dividing the plate as a visual cue.³

What should a healthy plate look like?

• Half filled with vegetables (salad, broccoli, brussels sprouts).
• One quarter filled with lean protein (chicken, beans, eggs).
• One quarter filled with carbs.

Learn more about the plate method and find recipes at the diabetes food hub. 

Working out is another great tool to help diabetics. Exercise increases sensitivity to insulin.⁴ It also helps control blood sugar level, keep blood pressure in the healthy range, and lower bad cholesterol. According to experts, people are more likely to stick with an exercise routine if they have a workout buddy.⁵ So lace up your sneakers and join your loved one for a walk, yoga class, or strength training. Remember to always talk with your loved one’s doctor before starting a new fitness regime.

Diabetic patients often have several chronic conditions.⁶ These might include obesity, cardiovascular disease, and kidney complications. It’s important to learn about each diagnosis impacting your loved one so you can address their full medical needs. Help them organize doctor appointments, specialists and even medications. Offer to pick up their medication and speak to the pharmacist if there are any new medicines. It’s important to double check how different prescriptions interact. Once you’ve cleared their medications with the pharmacist, get a pill organizer and help them stay on track with their treatment plan.

Diabetes often has a negative impact on mental health. It’s a lot of work and stress to manage, especially if the diagnosis is new. Stress can impact blood sugar, causing it to rise and fall unpredictably.⁷ Be willing to listen to your loved one, without judgement or platitudes. Help them find self-care that works for them whether that’s taking a nature walk, practicing meditation, or a doing a hobby they enjoy. Connecting with a diabetes support group is another option that might help them learn from other people with similar health concerns.

Helping your loved one with diabetes can be a difficult task, but with research, patience, and a willingness to learn you can help them manage their blood sugar and improve their overall health. While diabetes is a chronic disease, with proper care and your help your loved one can live a more fulfilling life.

Sources

1. “Diabetes in Older People." National Institutes of Health, 10 April 2024, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/diabetes/diabetes-older-people.
2. “Diabetes Basics" CDC, 15 May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/index.html.
3. "Diabetes Meal Planning." CDC, 15 May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/healthy-eating/diabetes-meal-planning.html.
4. "The 6 Best Activities for Older Adults with Diabetes." NCOA, 17 May 2024, https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-6-best-activities-for-older-adults-with-diabetes/.
5. Landsverk, Gabby. "A Harvard researcher says working out with friends is the best way to meet your goals." Business Insider, 10 July 2021, https://www.businessinsider.com/exercise-workout-partner-best-way-to-get-fit-harvard-expert-2021-7.
6. "How to Be a Caregiver for Someone with Diabetes." NCOA, 31 Mar. 2023, https://www.ncoa.org/article/how-to-be-a-caregiver-for-someone-with-diabetes/.
7. "Diabetes and Mental Health." CDC, 15 May 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/living-with/mental-health.html.